Since its initial discovery in Allentown, PA, USA, the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), Halyomorpha halys (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) has now officially has been detected in 38 states and the District of Columbia in the USA. Isolated populations also exist in Switzerland and Canada. This Asian species quickly became a major nuisance pest in the mid-Atlantic USA region due to its overwintering behavior of entering structures. BMSB has an extremely wide host range in both its native home and invaded countries where it feeds on numerous tree fruits, vegetables, field crops, ornamental plants, and native vegetation. In 2010, populations exploded causing severe crop losses to apples, peaches, sweet corn, peppers, tomatoes and row crops such as field corn and soybeans in several midAtlantic states. Damaging populations were detected in vineyards, small fruit and ornamentals. Researchers are collaborating to develop management solutions that will complement current integrated pest management programs. This article summarizes the current pest status and strategies being developed to manage BMSB in the USA.

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The effect of temperature on the rate of spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), egg development was investigated for a population in Pennsylvania. Mean developmental duration (days ± SE) for egg hatch was evaluated at five constant temperatures of 19.9, 24.2, 25.1, 26.7, and 30°C using egg masses laid during the fall of 2018 and collected in 2019 from Berks Co., Pennsylvania. Base temperature thresholds for egg development were estimated using intercept and slope parameters by fitting a linear relationship between average temperature and developmental rate for the Pennsylvania study, two Korean studies, and the combined data sets. The base threshold estimates were then used to calculate seasonal accumulated degree-days (ADD) and construct logistic equations for predicting cumulative proportion of hatch in the spring. The fitted logistic prediction equations were then graphed against the egg hatch observations from field sites in Pennsylvania (2017) and Virginia (2019). When base temperature estimates from the three studies and combined studies were used to calculate ADD, the logistic models predicted similar timing for seasonal egg hatch. Because the slopes and intercepts for these four data sets were not statistically different, a base temperature threshold of 10.4°C derived from the combined model is a good estimate for computing ADD to predict spotted lanternfly spring emergence across a spatio-temporal scale. The combined model was linked with open source weather database and mapping programs to provide spatiotemporal prediction maps to aid pest surveillance and management efforts for spotted lanternfly.

The relationship between SPAD-501 meter readings (SPAD) and total chlorophyll content (TCHL) was evaluated for `Delicious' apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) leaves grown in various environments. Regression models were developed between SPAD and TCHL for each of six separate experiments and were evaluated for statistical coincidence. SPAD was linearly related in a positive manner to TCHL in five of the six experiments; however, models differed between experiments, particularly between field- and greenhouse-grown trees. Thus, the relationship between SPAD and TCHL must be determined for each experiment.